At the American Cancer Society, we're leading the fight for a world without cancer. Our employees and 1.5 million volunteers are raising the bar every single day. We actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds including communities of color, the LGBTQ community, veterans, and people with disabilities. The greater the diversity of our people, the better we can serve our communities.

The people who work at the American Cancer Society focus their diverse talents on our lifesaving mission. It is a calling. And the people who answer it are fulfilled.

The new BrightEdge Innovation Acceleration Hub in Texas, a new program funded by Lyda Hill Philanthropies, offers direct milestone-driven proof-of-concept funding to validate and de-risk promising technologies and pre-seed investments to enable the formation of high impact potential startups that can help to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.

The Program Manager in this role will work closely with the BrightEdge Innovation and Investment teams to support the launch and oversee the daily operations of this program. A successful Program Manager will demonstrate the ability to work with academic investigators, entrepreneurs, start-up companies, co-investors, BrightEdge advisors, other external parties within the innovation/venture ecosystem, and colleagues in the ACS Discovery pillar, to help position the program for future growth. The role requires a high level of self-motivation, strong communication skills and will have a meaningful level of responsibility/visibility from the outset.

This is a grant-funded position, currently funded through May 2026.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborate with senior ACS Discovery and BrightEdge team members to further refine and implement the program strategy, including opportunities to effectively leverage partnership models to launching and managing internally built programs.
• Provide overall management of the program, including logistics, operations, and communications, to ensure smooth and effective program execution in close collaboration with the BrightEdge team and ACS Extramural Discovery Sciences.
• Develop and implement strategies to promote and market the BrightEdge Innovation Acceleration hub to attract top investigators and companies from the cancer research community.
• Assist in the evaluation and selection process of grant applications and start-up investment opportunities, including reviewing materials, conducting diligence, and making funding recommendations, based on alignment with program goals and priorities.
• Expand and cultivate relationships with potential mentors, industry leaders, investors, KOLs and resource partners to further support the investigators, entrepreneurs, and companies in the program.
• Collaborate with the BrightEdge investment team to identify opportunities for additional follow-on funding and partnership resources for selected projects/companies.
• Coordinate and manage the logistics of in-person meetings (up to 2 annually), progress reports/check-ins, and ecosystem/resource partners.
• Support general communications and outreach efforts to engage with stakeholders, including universities, medical centers, investigators, entrepreneurs, mentors/advisors, industry leaders, ecosystem partners, and investors.  
• Assist with drafting, editing, and formatting internal and external materials, such as memos, presentations, reports, website content, etc., to ensure high-quality communications.
• In partnership with the Director of Operations at BrightEdge, gather and analyze budget including tracking billing, payments, financial transactions, and other information needed for funding reports and proposals to support program sustainability and growth.
• Monitor program policies and practices to ensure compliance and effectiveness, and implement improvements as needed.
• Create and maintain program records, reports, presentations, and proposals to support program evaluation and reporting requirements.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

FORMAL KNOWLEDGE:     

• Advanced degree (e.g., PhD, MD, MBA) strongly preferred (bachelors degree required) with a focus or concentration in biology or life sciences, health sciences, or other related fields (specific focus in oncology preferred)
• 1+ years’ experience within the fields of venture capital, start-ups, technology transfer, biotech, medtech, or healthcare technology.

SPECIALIZED TRAINING OR KNOWLEDGE:        

COMPETENCIES/SKILLS:

• Passion for the start-up ecosystem and entrepreneurship, with a keen interest in cancer technologies and their potential impact.
• Relevant science/technical background with a solid understanding of cancer research, patient care, and related technologies.
• Familiarity with research grant funding, incubator/accelerator programs, technology transfer, and commercialization processes.
• Proven experience in a relevant position, with a track record of successful complex program/project management.
• Excellent time-management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Tech-savvy, proficient in MS Office, and familiar with project management tools and platforms (ex: AirTable).
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with attention to detail and efficiency in producing high-quality materials.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with stakeholders at various levels.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse and multi-disciplinary teams, including researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and partners.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and adaptable to changing environments.

In addition to these, the ideal candidate will need to possess leadership and critical thinking skills associated with strategic development, collaboration and influence. BrightEdge is a complex operating model, and the above skills are necessary for success.

Demonstrates ACS Leadership Competencies:

People-First Mindset: Demonstrates genuine care of ACS’s people by providing meaningful work,

offering opportunities for professional development, and valuing work-life balance of team

members.

Organizational Savvy: Demonstrates clear understanding of organizational culture and effectively

navigates through complex company dynamics, championing organization initiatives.

Decision Making: Makes good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.

Business Knowledge: Applying business knowledge and industry best practices to advance the

organization’s goals and inform data-driven decision making.

Leadership Courage: Stepping up to address tough organizational issues and demonstrating

conviction and courage to do what’s right.

Strategic Mindset: Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into break through

strategies.

SPECIAL MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Travel within the state of Texas and will be required (less than 30%)
• Occasional additional travel may be required (less than 10%)

The American Cancer Society has adopted a vaccination policy that requires all staff, regardless of position or work location, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (except where prohibited by state law).

ACS provides staff a generous paid time off policy; medical, dental, retirement benefits, wellness programs, and professional development programs to enhance staff skills. Further details on our benefits can be found on our careers site at: jobs.cancer.org/benefits. We are a proud equal opportunity employer.